I am safe and sound back in Athens after a wonderful trip to Mykonos! We had a few minor bumps along the way but they made for some great memories. We started off Saturday morning perfectly, we left the apartment at 5:45 :( and took a taxi to the bus station. The bus ride was about an hour to Rafina, which is the port that all the Ferries come through. We got there about 830ish for our 915 ferry so we had time to get coffee (not me) and chocolate croissants. We loaded the ferry early so we could get great seats and we did! We were on the very top right by the ledge so we could watch all the scenery. Since it was early in the day it wasn't too hot either. It was also fun people watching, we had some very metro Italian men that were just dressed ridiculously flamboyant.
We got off the ferry five hours later and decided to walk up to a car rental place and ask for the direction of our hotel. We asked the man: "Where is the Pelican Hotel?" His responce..."Oh, that's on Mykonos Island."...Our response "Where are we?!" We had gotten off at the wrong ferry stop! They didn't announce where we stopped in English so we just got off! The man says: "You need to be on that ferry right there" and he points to our ferry driving away. Oh, great. Then he goes "Or that one" and points to one just pulling in. We run like crazy and get on and show the many our tickets that weren't actually for that particular ship and he doesn't say anything but motions for us to follow him. We walk to the front desk of the ferry and anxiously wait for him to tell us something. We're standing there like we're in detention in junior high while he makes all these phone calls and drinks is espresso. We are in such suspense and he goes: "Which one is Philippou?" Dora says she is and then he asks if she's Greek and she says her family is from Cyprus. After that revelation he immediately perks up, we find out he knows English quite well, and gives us new tickets. I swear these Greeks have no cognition of how the people they are dealing with are feeling, it's like their just waiting until it's convenient for them.
So we have a good laugh about that and ride the next 15 minutes to Mykonos. This looks more like it, it was exactly what I thought of when I dreamed of Greece. Crystal clear blue oceans next to the mountains filled with white houses with blue roofs/windows/domes. We all were so excited! We get off the ferry and try to find a cab for like 30 minutes. They all just keep driving right past us and we call the hotel, the cab company, and keep getting ignored or disconnected. Finally we decide to make a human chain across the road and stop one! She stops for us and drives us to our hotel. Greek drivers are the scariest drivers in the world. They will literally touch bumpers with cars in front of them and ignore lane lines, traffic signals, and pedestrians. Needless to say, the drive up the rocky mountains and steep cliffs was a bit unnerving. Our hotel was so beautiful though! It is somehow connected with the School of Fine Arts so it was so pretty and quaint. We actually had only reserved a room for two but all four of us were staying there so we had to do some manuevering to sneak the other two in haah but it worked out!
We were starving by this point so set off to find a restaurant and a beach. The way down to the town was so beautiful, I took tons of pictures! The streets of Mykonos were designed to be like a maze to throw off pirates so we had a really great time navigating those. Our hotel manager says before we leave: "There aren't really street names so you'll just have to keep asking people around you for directions"...oh great. Luckily they're all really nice and willing to help us. Plus, it's not a very big island. There are the most gorgeous plants and flowers there! They come in vibrant pinks and purples and contrast against the blue water. It was right out of a calendar. Mopeds and vespas whissped past while the breeze smelled of coconuts and saltwater. There are many restaurants right up to the beach so we choose one that has the most gorgeous view of the horizon. We each order 2 liter water bottles (you can't drink the water in Mykonos we found out after each drinking a whole glass of it, but nothing happened!) and our meals. I had feta cheese and a fruit salad and it was beautiful as well as refreshing.
We then headed to the most beautiful beach I've ever seen! There were only about 10 other people actually swimming, but there were people walking on the sidewalks. The water was very salty but so clear you could see everything! No seaweed or gross things that are usually in oceans. The sand was actually small rocks mixed with larger grained sand that was quite perfect because it didn't get everywhere but it wasn't sharp like all rocks. We swam and took a siesta on the beach for about 2 hours and then went to get cleaned up. We drank wine that we bought at a convenient store that even uncorked it for us because so many people vacation there and no one brings corks! We sat on our private balcony and watched the sunset while laughing and listening to music.
We went to dinner and all shared family style. We had saganaki (fried cheese), lamb with risotto, stuffed tomatos, and bakalava. I'm actually surprised to say I like the baklava I make better because I only put one clove in it for decoration while they put cloves in the actual mixture. It was a bit too strong for me but still good. We then headed to the club scene where we were bombarrded with despearte workers for us to come into their bars. We went to three different ones and they were great! We headed home around 3 but the scene was still going strong, apparently no one goes home until 5 in the morning but we couldn't make it 24 hours without sleep. We slept four in a queen size bed horizontally but we were so tired we were fine with it. Complimentary breakfast at the hotel was great. Did some shopping at the shops and then headed to the ferry.
We couldn't get a taxi until we walked about 10 minutes but we made it on time! This time we were so tired we wanted to just sit inside because it was so hot. We sat by this little Greek family with a girl and boy about 2-2 and a half. The boy was of course always staring at me because I always attract kids, but thankfully repel the wild animals here. He was very sweet and slept most of the time but the girl, Anna Maria, screamed a lot. While on the ferry some acoridan and guitar players started playing in one of the sections and about 6 older women were dancing! It was so Greek, I loved it. I almost shouted Opah but thought it to be inappropriate...
We got off the ferry and found a bus to Athens. We asked the driver when we would leave and he said "30 minutes". So we told him we were going to run and get a snack because we were really hungry. He goes "Oh, no, the bus could leave in 5 minutes". These people just expect you to like drop everything and go on a whim when they feel like it, it's crazy. So this bus ride was ok except there were people standing in the aisles the whole hour drive! I felt bad for them. Clearly Greece has no safety laws...
We get to Athens and it takes about four tries to find a cab driver who will drive us to our neighborhood, Pangrati. We finally find one but he has no idea where our street is. We drive in circles like 3 times and then he pulls out a GPS! He can't seem to find the street and we're showing in the map for like 25 minutes, it was ridiculous. But we only had to pay 7 euro so it was fine.
By the time we got back it was 8:30 and we were so starving and tired we just ordered Greek pizza. Then Bette and I decided to reorganize our double room so we could have a living room area! It looks so great.
All in all it was a great weekend, Agora tomorrow!
Mykonos pictures: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4287309&l=ab20cc1f0a&id=590541644
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